Pain is Weakness Leaving the Body

So I don't exercise. It's true. I'm not in shape physically. Yes, I'm skinny, and I'm starting to eat right. But only because I throw myself on the ground and slam my head against the floor if I don't. However, spiritually, I exercise. I read my bible, I pray, I go to church, I tithe, I smile. Everything I was taught as a little girl to show that I love Jesus, I do. But as I get older, I realize the importance of needing to be near Him and in an active relationship with Him. I crave Him. I miss the time I sometimes don't take to talk to Him. When He's not a priority to me. There are times when I know I've done wrong and need to humble myself before Him and others. But the fantastic thing is that everything I do, Christ is right there with me. It makes me take a very different view on my life. When I sin, fail, succeed, grow, He's still right there with me. And I really wouldn't change that at all. It is the times that I don't know if I need to be "doing" something that unnerve me.

A friend of mine sent me an article today called Discovering God's Will by Dr. Sinclair Ferguson. He sent it to me after reading my last few posts. And believe me, it's good stuff. In a nutshell it is a few questions to help me dispel the confusion swirling around me at the moment. Dr. Ferguson uses Paul's letters to the church at Corinth as a kind of how-to guide to finding God's will. He answers the questions by using the various teachings of Paul.

1) Is It Lawful?
2) Is It Beneficial To Me?
3) Is It Enslaving?
4) Is It Consistent With Christ's Lordship?
5) Is It Helpful To Others?
6) Is It Consistent With Biblical Example?

I need to sit down and do this with what is going on in my heart. It'll take courage and a whole lot of vulnerability on my part. But I know that He's not going to crush my heart when I talk to Him about all of this and ask Him questions. There have been plenty of times when I've fallen. Sure, I piss and moan about it, then I get up, brush myself off, and realize He had my hand the whole time. I leave for a mission trip to Mexico on Friday. Which means a very long van ride is in my near future. But a little solitude and then a whole lot of service does my body (and heart) good.

(On a sidenote, I said "piss and moan" the other day at community group and everyone laughed at me. It means whining and complaining. And its clearly not something y'all say around these parts. O well, we all got a good laugh and I got to blush to the tips of my toes. I think blushing is one of my spiritual gifts.)